Still no unity for Cook County GOP

April 19, 2012

There's already trouble brewing for the new leader of the Cook County Republican Party.

Palatine's Aaron Del Mar was elected Wednesday night to lead the struggling Cook County GOP. The 33 year old won by a slim margin after a closed-to-the-public vote that those inside say was full of infighting.

"Everyone wants to pick their candidate," Del Mar said after the vote at a Greektown restaurant. "And there's nothing wrong with a robust heated debate."

Del Mar said he wants to heal the party, but the divisions re-emerged within hours of his election.

Listen to WBEZ's Sam Hudzik talk to Jason Marck on Afternoon Shift about the new leadership.

New Trier Township Committeeman Bill Cadigan was ousted from his post last month. Cadigan said Del Mar on Thursday backtracked on a pledge to re-appoint him.

"He's the one who in promoting his candidacy, pledged unity, pledged to do the right thing and pledged to do it swiftly, and hasn't done that," Cadigan said by phone on Thursday.

For his part, Del Mar said it's his "intention" to reappoint Cadigan, but there first must be an application process.